ARMY COURT-MARTIAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 218, 14 September 1944, Page 5

ARMY COURT-MARTIAL

Severity Widely Discussed In Australia FIVE YEARS FOR STRIIvfXG N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 9.30 a.m. SYDNEY, this day. The severity of Army courtmartial sentences is being widely discussed in Australia. Returned servicemen and members of Parliament from both sides of the House are at present examining the case of a soldier sentenced to five years' gaol for having gone on strike. The New South Wales Returned Servicemen's League was told that the soldier, Private John Wilson, of Sydney, with others, had. staged a sit-down strike in protest against bug-infested quarters at a Brisbane camp. The strikers, who were sent to gaol, were dishonourably discharged from the Army. Wilson served overseas for two and a half years with the Ninth Division and several of his old comrades have told of his gallantry under fire. "Abundant evidence is available to prove that Wilson is a good soldier," says the Sydney Sun in an • editorial. "He has received a gaol sentence which, on the facts available, shocks the community. Compare his crime with those of civilians who sabotage the war effort by repeatedly striking without reason in the ranks of industry. Yet small fines plus a large measure of appeasement have been the lot of these saboteurs. "Wilson's sentence should be reviewed immediately. Failure to do this would earn for the Government the whole country's indignant condemnation." ASKED TO LEAVE BULGARIAN IN TURKEY Rec. 11 a.m. LONDON, Sept. 13. The Turkish Government has requested Peter Gabrovski, former Bulgarian Minister of the Interior, to leave the country, states Ankara radio. , , Gabrovski, who arrived at Istanbul on Monday, presumably to seek asylum, is known for his Nazi sympathies and anti-Jewish measures. | The radio added that action was I taken because of Turkey's decision not to accept refugees. RAIDS ON CELEBES Rec. 2 p.m. SYDNEY, this day. General Mac Arthur's bombers have continued the reduction of the Japanese forward bases in the Celebes, pounding the area with a further 125 tons of bombs. In the past four days more than 500 torn of bombs have been dropped on these targets. South-west Pacific Command bombers also raided an airfield near Zamboanga on Mindanao (southern Philippines).